At the last count, there were 6 aspirants to the Lion Building, the governorship seat of Enugu state, on six different political parties, namely Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Uche Nnanji of APC, Mr. Chijioke Edeoga of labour party, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr. of APGA, and one Barr Ogbe of ADC. Whereas such an array of aspirants should be exciting, something isn't sitting right. None of the aspirants, except Dr Mbah, any manifesto to Ndi-Enugu. He presented his agenda, "Statement of Purpose," at a consultative meeting the Media, Civil Society Organizations, Party Members and the Populace earlier in October this year.
Going through the booklet, the industrialist promises industrialization through the building of at least two industrial hub in each of the three senatorial zones in four years and by embarking on what he called "agro-processing zones" according to comparative advantages. At a town hall meeting with the meeting of Aninri east and west development centers, held on Wednesday 9th November 2022, Dr. Mbah promises to reduce youth unemployment by 70 per cent in four years, create jobs for our young men and women in tourism, agro-allied industry, entertainment industry, ICT, acquisition programmes, etc., and create an enabling environment for the youth to thrive in the private sector.
Regarding road infrastructure, Dr. Mbah promises to build a multimodal transport system, super highways from Enugu city centre to Enugu border states as well as construct railroad and ring road to connect all local governments in the state.
On good governance, he pledges to ensure equal treatment to all, open and consultative governance, independent and efficient legislature and judiciary, ensure 24/7 service provision through well-designed e-government, zero interference with local funds, and prompt payment of salaries and retirement benefits to reduce corruption. On security, Dr. Mbah/Ossai joint ticket offers to provide a digital security network, set up an efficient state-funded security outfit that can respond to emergency in every minute, create an Enugu state identity database, and set up security and public safety coordination centre.
Dr. Mbah promises to build dams and rehabilitate existing water sources, pipelines, and other infrastructure to ensure that water scarcity becomes a thing of the past in Enugu. Also, he promises to expand the water coverage to enable the people of Enugu state have access to good drinkable water. He assures for health reforms, including ensuring that there is a functional and well-manned primary healthcare facility for every community, secondary healthcare facility for every local government, whiles the Enugu state university teaching hospital is to be transformed into a world-class tertiary healthcare facility.
Dr. Mbah's focus on energy, he assures to extend electricity supply to every home and restore vandalized lines, secure Enugu's electricity lines and infrastructure going forward, embark on large-scale renewable energy and provide mini grids for remote communities. Regarding agriculture, he commits to promoting the production of high density crops of higher demand in the international market, providing livestock agriculture, creating access to funds for farmers and local production of farm inputs like fertilizers, seedlings and agro-allied chemicals. These will make farming attractive, especially to the youths.
Going by what Dr. Peter Mbah was able to do in the private sector by building the Pinnacle oil and gas terminal in the Lekki Free Trade Zone, becomes a champion in the downstream oil and gas sub-sector of our national economy, and going by his experience, contacts and exposure he has garnered over the years from the local and international levels, he no doubt stands a good chance to deliver on these promises. However, the issue here is not even his capacity to deliver, but the fact that, unlike others, he has publicly tabled a blueprint by which his aspiration can be weighed. Also, the people of Enugu can have something with which to benchmark him if elected the governor.
Upon interaction with a handful of other aspirants on why they are yet to present any programme/agenda, the usual answer goes with the euphoria of Dr. Mbah's intimidating profile, personality and disruptive innovation ideas to grow Enugu state economy and the infrastructures when elected the next governor. Even by the most elementary definition, a leader is someone who can see how things can be improved upon rallies people to move toward that vision by inspiring passion and motivation in them.
Ndi Enugu, indeed, Tomorrow Is Here.
